Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Red, are you saying that you've actually traveled to Thailand to study? If so, WOW! I've heard about western science studying the brains of eastern meditators and have seen the brain scans showing how meditation changes brain activity. Thanks for the link - fascinating stuff. I know also that all of the Sloan-Kettering institutes are using meditation in their cancer therapy regimen. I see on the front page of the link you sent - a chart about breast cancer and meditation (mindfulness).

Bruun, the sitting doesn't have to be painful. I've actually found a video that shows how to sit correctly, and it definitely makes a difference. Here's a link:

Still Sitting Video - How to Sit in Meditation

[KateH1]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Hello Everyone, It has been quite a while since I have been to this site. Something compeled me to come here tonight and now I know that this thread is the reason! Meditation is one of the best tools that I have used in my sobriety. I have also studied Buddism for a long, long while. I have learned so many powerful lessons through this study and practice.

Red, thank you for this link. Imagine my surprise that there will be a powerful sympsium here in Denver in April. I have already emailed this organization to volunteer during this event! Thank you for this information!

Namaste, All!
Kate

[Determinator]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Hey sister Kate! it's been a while indeed. I didn't know you were/are Buddhist. I learn something every day for sure.

I enjoyed Thich's book on mindfulness incidentally. it's a bit slow compared to most Western structured/styled books but very good all the same.

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Kate, thanks for posting. I'm going to check out the April symposium. I'm so glad to hear that you're having success with meditation - I feel like it's really helping me. But, I need to find a teacher according to the Buddhist books I'm reading - sounds like it's imperative.

Do you have a teacher? I'm meeting with a group on December 10 and hope to find out more at that time.

[KateH1]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Hey "Lil Bro"....great to see you!

Hi Unwasted, nice to meet you! In answer to your question. Yes, I have studied meditation for a very long time now, (since college), including TM back in the 70's. During college we used to go to the Krishna temple on Sunday's for a free vegitarian meal and meditation (more chanting and beating drums! LOL). Over the years, I read multiple books and listened to numerous tapes on the subject, but I did not have much success along the way until five years ago when I took a Meditation seminar from a woman that had studied meditation under Deepak Chopra. This seminar brought it all together for me and took the "mystery of meditation" away....I was making meditation so very complicated!! LOL!!

But, it also became very clear to me at that time that meditation while drinking was an "oxy moron"! One cannot be using a mind altering substance whist trying to center the mind and body. In other words, I was attempting to center my mind and balance my body all the while, damaging both mind and body with alcohol. So, I began to think about how in the world I could or would let go of my daily "friend". (Not a friend at all!) It took me several months and many slips and falls, but I finally began my journey to sobriety in December 2007!! I also took some meditation classes as well as achieving my Reiki Master level. None of this would have been possible had I not found My Way Out and all of the wonderful friends that I found here. My journey continues and Sobriety has made all of this possible!!

Namaste!
Kate

[Determinator]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

that reminds me of what Tolle said about drinking in A.N.E. I forget the exact verbiage but essentially that stilling the mind allows us to deal with challenges by allowing us to raise above them non-reactively, and drinking works by allowing us to lower ourselves so far in terms of consciousness that the problem 'appears' to subside but is of course only occluded.

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

In other words, I was attempting to center my mind and balance my body all the while, damaging both mind and body with alcohol

Kate, I can really see where it would be impossible to drink and learn to meditate properly; hence, one of the reasons the Buddhists have no intoxication as one of the five main Precepts! It's becoming clearer to me how drinking complicates our lives way beyond the hangover level. For me at least, there was a component of trying to fill the god or spiritual void by numbing out.

Det - Tolle is an inspiring writer - I haven't read A New Earth but have read the The Power of Now which was good.

Thanks for your posts everyone; heartening to know that meditation has helped you in a fundamental way.

[spacebebe01]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Hi Im faily new to meditation and this thread but am thinking of trying a meditation class on Sunday, I havent read though the hole thread yet but will carry on with it

[looking for peace]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Hi everyone interested in meditation, I contacted a buddist center in my city and haven't heard back yet. Im not too hopeful since I drove by it yesterday and it's justba really small house. The yoga studio that I practice at did add 2 meditation classes to their schedule, so maybe I'll start with that.

I just read something on the web that rang a bell with me. I think I was googling detachment. I am paraphrasing but it was something like this:

We tend to attach to much of our emotion to our thoughts. We have to learn to keep our thoughts at a distance and just observe them and realize that they will pass. Bad thoughts will pass and so will good ones. Meditation and mindfulness are the tools we use to develop detachment.

As addicts, we attach to much to thoughts instead of recognizing them and letting them go. So as a result, if a thought makes us feel bad, we reach for a drink to try and get rid of it. That's why meditation is so important for us. Urge surfing is a form of detachment. It's an interesting topic to google. I'd be really interested in everyone else's progress with meditation as time goes by.

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Everyone - I have two books that I think would help you tremendously. I've finished the first and am well into the second. Profound and exactly what we need to hear to help us along our path:

Meditation Advice To Beginners by Bokar Rinpoche

A New Earth - Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle

LFP and NE - there is a right way to meditate and I think it's important to learn how to do it. The Tibetan master Rinpoche insists on getting a teacher - that you can't just do it by reading a book. So, I'm searching. I've been to a Buddhist Temple twice and done the whole service including bowing. Now, this was a little strange but I tried to keep an open mind. Remember when you bow, it's not to Buddha, it's to your inner Buddha, the truth within you. But, even if I never got a teacher, I would feel like I was getting a lot from the meditating I'm doing on my own.

I meet with some people next Saturday to learn more. I'm blown away by what I'm learning and it is helping me see life vastly differently - and I mean that in a profoundly positive light!

LFP - the detachment concept is all part of it - the terminology is different but it's definitely a Buddhist concept.

I'll keep posting as I learn more. Seriously, though, consider getting the books if you want to pursue meditation. Even if you're not looking to become a Buddhist, the teachings are invaluable.

[Determinator]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

one caveat for those looking at Tolle's A.N.E. is that it's very deep and not a light read. that being said it's my fav book on spirituality to date. i got the audio CD version so I can listen while driving. I've listened to this book at least 5 times now and still learning so much.

NevaEva I think I know what you mean. like in A.N.E. where the distraught woman is talking with Tolle and comes to a place where she is able to make some 'space' around her discomfort/anxiety. A really profound advance in consciousness for me.

[4theboyz]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

@unwasted...Tolle I find has a way to put ancient meditation principals into modern understandable concepts and precepts. The Power of Now is another great read on living in the moment devoid of past experiences or future expectations. I would second finding a meditation guru to help you into your own inner mind. I did and it was a profound everlasting change in how I do meditate.

[looking for peace]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

I too read the Tolle books and find them very good, but I still need to put into practice what I read..... Good idea to get the audio version. Unwasted, did you maybe look into any yoga studios in your area offering meditation classes if you are not that comfortable with the bowing, etc? In my area there are a few yoga studios that offer group meditation sessions as well as workshops. I will attend my first one tomorrow after my yoga class.

In the fall I attended an 8 week mindfulness mediation class offered through the hospital. It is based on Jon Kabatt Zinns program at the Massachusettes General Hospital, I believe. Anyway, they now offer that program all over the country... The teacher here does a monthly group meditation.

I found that I was not letting my meditation fall by the wayside when I had a class to go to, so I will start to incorporate weekly sessions once again.

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

4 - You have described Tolle exactly as I see him. It was interesting, because I began reading his book on the heels of ones written by Buddhist masters. Tolle makes those ancient teachings accessible to Westerners I think, and modernizes the ideas so they're more relevant.

Det - so interesting to hear you talk about Tolle too. He seems like a modern prophet to me. Having the books on tape is a super idea. And, you're right, they're really deep and probably need to be read multiple times. Invaluable insight.

4, thank you for this advice about getting a teacher. I hope I can find someone in my area (I don't live in what you'd call a hotbed of Buddhists LOL).

Thanks for posting everyone - really interesting and helpful.:l:l

[RedThread12]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

So very glad you picked up the link for Mind & Life, Kate. I love how it works - just a single post on a thread that you "just happened" to open!

I may be there in April. I had the possibility to be a member of a group reporting findings from an evidence-based training called "Cultivating Emotional Balance." Had I been able to return from my own training in Thailand last summer and run a group to gather data, I would definitely been there. My Mom's illness has taken priority.

The knowledge and resources that Mind and Life has developed are beyond awesome. They carry forward, at the highest, most advanced levels of western science, the Dalai Lama's determination that what has been discovered about ourselves and our world through Buddhism, must be able to be tested and demonstrated to be valid via western scientific methods.

For about 16 years, scientists around the world have been in collaboration w/the DL in that endeavor. That's where we got the pictures of the monks with "neuro-caps" on their heads, allowing fMri imaging to track their brainwaves, huge amounts of information about brain plasticity - the brain does, and we can guide it, change throughout our lives, and so much more. A vast majority of scientific research arising in the last decade about "mindfulness," or "meditation," has come about through Mind and Life.

And yes, Un. I went to Thailand for a 5 week course that the Dalai Lama had requested that Paul Ekman (western scientist whose life's work is around human emotions; ever see "Lie To Me on TV? that was based on Paul's workd) and B. Alan Wallace (former monk, long-time friend and Tibetan interpreter for the Dalai Lama) present. It's called "Cultivating Emotional Balance." It's intent is to offer an evidence-based, non-sectarian program for, well . . . just what the name says. I've traveled a LOT to be with teachers who offer what I want to learn. And I guess I'm blessed, because I can tell w/in a heartbeat when I'm reading or listening to someone if it's the right path for me to follow.

I recall reading once that a student asked the Dalai Lama about how to know if you've found the right teacher. His response was something like, "hmmmm . . . well, if, after 10 years or so you find you are not progressing, you should probably look elsewhere."

I will say again: If you are sitting, or moving toward sitting, or want to sit on a regular basis, it is my experience that it is essential to have a technique of meditation to work with. In other words, KNOW what you are supposed to be doing while you are on the cushion. Without that, cushion-time could float you down the wrong river.

I took a 10-day course FIRST, before I began sitting, so I knew exactly what to do with my attention - what I was training my mind toward. That's why it's called a "practice." Practicing focusing the attention in a specific way. I still, primarily, utilize the same techniques that I learned in 1987.

I don't know if it matters where you get your instructions for what to do with your time on the cushion. A book, a recording, someone's suggestion . . . just please approach your cushion knowing what your focus will be.

Perhaps the most fundamental practice, found in some form in almost every tradition, is "awareness of breath." The aim of this practice is to stabilize the attention so solidly that you remain aware of each and every inhalation and each and every exhalation - giving ALL importance to the breath and letting any other thoughts or intrusions drop away. In the Buddhist tradition, this practice is called "anna panna sati." If you're interested, google it, do some reading, and give it a try. And don't get discouraged . It is a simple, but most definitely NOT easy, practice.

But it's awesome, especially for insomniacs. Gives you something to do with your mind when you wake up in the middle of the night other than watch it run around and around and around and around, mostly believing what it is telling you. Ouch!

Just some stories and suggestions that I hope give encouragement to deeply honor whatever arises as a longing, a calling, a "being drawn toward," these matters. This is a great forum for this conversation; once again, there's no one answer for everyone, but there are a LOT of possibilities - more today, I think, than ever before, at least in this country. We're so fortunate in that way.

Jack Kornfield's 1st book: "A Path With Heart," is a golden treasure of information and suggestions for practice.

There are other's - gotta' run for now. Later, 'gators!

May All Beings,
Near and Far,
Visible and Invisible,
Be Free From Suffering.